Video Surveillance Guide

Companies and individuals alike often go the security route of installing video surveillance cameras over hiring a live guard to stand duty – mainly due to cost. But one gated community in San Antonio actually found that the cameras are more effective at curbing vandalism and community damage.

Before the live-monitored video cameras were installed, the gated community of Vineyard Subdivisions was having consistent problems with people crashing the pool after hours and vandalism to its six community gates. The community had live security guards, but it wasn’t possible for them to be as vigilant as a group of security cameras that are monitored remotely.

“We’ve eliminated all gate damage due to negligence and one person that accidentally rammed the gate, because of the cameras, called in and told us that they had done it,” says the HOA president.

Some of the cameras are even wireless, allowing the community to move them around the property to problem hotspots.

We don’t expect that this approach will work in all security situations, but for neighborhoods dealing with vandalism and improper facility use, surveillance cameras with remote, live-monitoring could prove to be cheaper and more effective in the long run.

Source: Security Director News

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Somewhat disturbing news is coming out of the pentagon today, confirming reports that insurgents in Iraq and possibly Afghanistan have been able to hack into the video surveillance feed of U.S. military drones.

The video feeds were unencrypted, so the insurgents were able to view the feeds with a piece of $26 software.

After the breach, the military says it’s working to encrypt the surveillance video that it collects form Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

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Russians take things pretty seriously, especially when it comes to their vodka. That’s why we don’t think the owners of the liquor warehouse in Russia were too pleased when a forklift operator bumped one of the shelving units, sending off a ridiculous chain reaction of vodka destruction.

The cost of the destruction is estimated at around $170,000 – and the driver of the forklift made out with only a broken leg.

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When High School Senior Tiana Rapp found that someone had stole $150 from her locker, she went immediately to the school. In turn, the school blamed other students for the mishap, even though an adult hall monitor was patrolling the area.

After another $40 was stolen, the teen placed a video camera in another locker fixed on hers and captured the hall monitor opening the locker with a master key and rummaging through her belongings.

The hall monitor has resigned, and been charged with three counts of petty larceny by the local police department.
Unfortunately, it seems like the school was quick to blame the students and didn’t bother looking into the matter.

For students and parents who are uneasy with the ideas of surveillance cameras in schools, this would be a good example case of how video surveillance can be a two-way street and help protect students from being wronged by school employees. Even so, we don’t expect to see many school districts touting that as a benefit (at least publicly) when they propose surveillance systems.

[Baltimore Sun via @Brickhousesecurity]

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Video Surveillance is one of the fastest growing segments in technology, but new research is saying the market for cameras and their equipment isn’t immune from the slumping economy.

According to market-research firm In-Stat, some segments within the video surveillance market will be hit harder than others. IP cameras, due to their high cost, will see a reduction on shipments this year as well Networked Video Recorders (NVRs) since they are normally bought in tandem.

The research also says that not all segments are down. For example, hybrid DVRs that can connect to both IP Video sources as well as analog cameras are seeing an increase in sales.

If you don’t want to pony up the $3,495 for In-Stat’s complete research study, here are the high-points:

• After a decline in 2009, revenue from analog cameras, IP cameras, DVR/NVR, and IP encoders will grow to US$19 billion in 2011.

• Video encoding for DVRs, IP cameras, and IP encoders is moving to H.264 from MPEG-4 part 2. This is enabled by more powerful ICs able to encode multiple streams of H.264 on a single IC.

• As pricing comes down, the attach rate for video analytics in video surveillance equipment will increase at a fast pace.

• Semiconductor revenue for the video surveillance equipment will be stable through 2013, with lower average selling prices offsetting shipment growth.

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Some police statistics are showing that home burglaries are up 22 percent over last year, causing many homeowners to invest in security cameras for their homes. However video systems aren’t only becoming popular in homes, they’re also showing up in more unlikely places like soda-pop vending machines.

Police in Oklahoma City are searching for one man who was caught stealing the cash box from a soda-machine by a small hidden camera inside.

“It should serve as a warning,” the Oklahoma City Police Sgt. Gary Knight said, who added that no matter where a robbery takes place, it’s becoming increasingly common for it to be caught on tape

Source: News9.com

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The City Council in Sacramento will decide today whether to approve funds to add video surveillance cameras to city streets and other public areas. The local ACLU chapter has been fighting the initiative for some time.

The money is coming from a federal grant from the Department of Homeland Security and would help purchase and install 32 security cameras, four mobile surveillance trailers, and other related technology.

Sacramento’s Mayor is in favor for the appropriation, saying “I fought for the money and got it…Public safety is a top priority for my administration, and I will use every tool to help reduce crime in our city.”

The ACLU says the proposed camera system is an “intrusive invasion of privacy,” but is not expected to file suit against the city.

Source: Sacramento Press

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The deeply troubled organization ACORN announced today that they were bringing a lawsuit against the two filmmakers that used hidden cameras to videotape ACORN workers without their consent.

The two posed as a pimp and a prostitute, claimed they were smuggling in underage girls for prostitution, and were looking for ways to cheat the IRS. ACORN workers in several states helped the young couple figure ways to avoid paying taxes on their illegal activities. Now, the ACORN and its workers are suing under a Maryland statute that claims both parties must have consent to audiotape private conversations.

So it isn’t so the actual video images, but rather that the video has an audio component to go with it.

The ACORN crew is also claiming ‘emotional distress’ over everything, and adding punitive damages on top, for a total of around $7 million.

Unfortunately for James O’Keefe, 25, and Hannah Giles, 20, the audio-taping law appears to be on the side of ACORN – but would any jury convict the two?

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Cisco and Pelco are joining forces to develop the technology behind new HD IP video surveillance cameras, based on Pelco’s current Sarix platform.

The HD video cameras are expected to be available later this year, and will be distributed by “Cisco Authorized Technology Providers.”

The VP of Physical Security at Cisco had this to say:

After conducting an extensive evaluation of current technologies, we found that Pelco has developed one of the most advanced IP HD imaging systems in the global security marketplace.”

The co-branded cameras will feature Sarix functions, such as full frame-rate video, H.264 compression, low-light performance, embedded analytics, and auto focus.

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